Explanation of Real Estate Taxes

Explanation of Real Estate

As a resident of West Manheim Township you are taxed by three taxing districts. York County and West Manheim Township real estate property taxes are combined on one bill. The third one is South Western School District. The township and school district also have a per capita tax. The taxes levied by the districts are allowed by Pennsylvania law.

Real Estate taxes are based on the assessed value of your property. The assessed value is determined by the Assessment Office of York County. The assessed value is then multiplied by the current mils (example 4.5 or .0045) to determine the tax dollar amount. The per capita tax is a personal tax for anyone over the age of 18 who resides here. You can be exonerated from the per capita tax by filling out a form available in my office.

The general rule is as follows:

County and Township bills are based on a calendar year.
Mailed in February “ Discount by April 15th “ Base amount by June 15th

School bills are based on a fiscal year July 1 to June 30 of following year
Mailed in July ‘Discount by Sept 30th’ Base amount by November 30th.

All bills dated by September 1st must be paid by December 31st.
Unpaid bills will be turned over to a delinquent collector.

The payment of tax bills are the taxpayer’s responsibility. If you have an escrow account, you must forward the tax bills to your mortgage company.

If you have purchased land and building a house, you will mostly likely receive interim real estate bills. You will receive a bill for the land first. After you acquire an occupancy permit, the assessment office will at some point be by to reassess your property. The paperwork goes through the process and a bill is generated. These bills may date back to when you moved in to your home. This generally occurs within the first year of living here. You could within that first year pay taxes for two years.